UPDATED: Jacksonville State releases Crowe from remainder of his contract

JSU coach Jack Crowe was released from the remaining two years of his contract on Friday. (Gadsden Times | File)

Times Staff Report

Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 8:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 11:35 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State University fired Jack Crowe on Friday, bringing an end to the head football coach's 13-year career with the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State Athletics Director Warren Koegel said the school had released Crowe from his contract in a statement issued Friday night.

“I want to thank coach Crowe for his years of service and recognize the work he and all of his assistants have done in support of our student-athletes,” Koegel said. “It is never easy to make a coaching change, but during this time of transition, the expectations of our department remain the same.”

Crowe was the second-winningest coach in JSU history and went 87-57 during his tenure. But the support wasn't there for the 65-year-old coach.

“I'm honored to have been the coach at Jacksonville State University,” Crowe said in the statement released by the school. “I felt like we have moved the program forward over the last 13 years. There is still a lot left to be done.

“After several discussions with Warren I realized I did not have the support to get those things done. I have decided, in my life, I didn't want to wait too late in finding new opportunities.”

Crowe signed a contract extension in June of last year that was supposed to pay him $162,000 plus incentives through 2014.

Crowe led the Gamecocks to three Ohio Valley Conference championships, including last year. His teams made three appearnces in the postseason, but were ousted in the first round each year.

“Our vision and mission are winning conference championships and advancing to the postseason on a regular basis,” Koegel said. “We continue to value student-athlete success academically and expect them to be great citizens in our community.”

Crowe, who originally is from Birmingham, has been in coaching for more than 38 years. Before arriving at JSU, he made stops at Auburn, Clemson, Baylor and Arkansas, among other places.

He was named the 2004 OVC Coach of the Year and was the winningest coach by percentage in the conference.

A national search now begins for what will be the program's 13th head coach in the modern era (1945). It likely will be an attractive job for potential candidates, as JSU boasts some of the nicest facilities in the Football Championship Subdivision, including the school's $47 million renovation of Burgess-Snow Field that was completed in 2010.

The Gamecocks also have an abundance of young talent returning for the 2013 football season.

<p>JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State University fired Jack Crowe on Friday, bringing an end to the head football coach's 13-year career with the Gamecocks.</p><p>Jacksonville State Athletics Director Warren Koegel said the school had released Crowe from his contract in a statement issued Friday night.</p><p>“I want to thank coach Crowe for his years of service and recognize the work he and all of his assistants have done in support of our student-athletes,” Koegel said. “It is never easy to make a coaching change, but during this time of transition, the expectations of our department remain the same.”</p><p>Crowe was the second-winningest coach in JSU history and went 87-57 during his tenure. But the support wasn't there for the 65-year-old coach.</p><p>“I'm honored to have been the coach at Jacksonville State University,” Crowe said in the statement released by the school. “I felt like we have moved the program forward over the last 13 years. There is still a lot left to be done.</p><p>“After several discussions with Warren I realized I did not have the support to get those things done. I have decided, in my life, I didn't want to wait too late in finding new opportunities.”</p><p>Crowe signed a contract extension in June of last year that was supposed to pay him $162,000 plus incentives through 2014.</p><p>Crowe led the Gamecocks to three Ohio Valley Conference championships, including last year. His teams made three appearnces in the postseason, but were ousted in the first round each year.</p><p>“Our vision and mission are winning conference championships and advancing to the postseason on a regular basis,” Koegel said. “We continue to value student-athlete success academically and expect them to be great citizens in our community.”</p><p>Crowe, who originally is from Birmingham, has been in coaching for more than 38 years. Before arriving at JSU, he made stops at Auburn, Clemson, Baylor and Arkansas, among other places.</p><p>He was named the 2004 OVC Coach of the Year and was the winningest coach by percentage in the conference.</p><p>A national search now begins for what will be the program's 13th head coach in the modern era (1945). It likely will be an attractive job for potential candidates, as JSU boasts some of the nicest facilities in the Football Championship Subdivision, including the school's $47 million renovation of Burgess-Snow Field that was completed in 2010.</p><p>The Gamecocks also have an abundance of young talent returning for the 2013 football season.</p>